MP Rachel Gilmour, second left, with parents and campaigners in Bishops Lydeard

Expanded nursery project in Somerset village set to begin after £100,000 funding pledge

Paul JonesDecember 12, 20250 Comment0

PARENTS in a Somerset village could soon be able to take advantage of a new, expanded nursery facility.

For months, families have been calling for improved nursery provision in Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, with a plan unveiled to redevelop a former part of the village school to increase places.

Bath & Wells Multi Academy Trust, which manages Bishops Lydeard Church School, originally agreed to match-fund any external funding up to £150,000 towards the project – projected to cost around £370,000 – and has since increased its contribution to around £220,000.

Now, Bishops Lydeard Parish Council has voted in favour of using £100,000 of funding to kickstart the scheme, which would see the old schoolhouse building renovated and brought back into use.

Building work could begin as early as February to be ready for the start of the next academic year.

Bishops Lydeard Church School has resubmitted an application to Department for Education for Nursery Capital Grant funding, which has been supported by MP Rachel Gilmour (Lib Dem, Tiverton & Minehead).

The school is set to find out about the funding in April and, if successful, the money would become available in June.

But with or without the extra funding, the parish council’s pledge means work can get underway as soon as possible.

Following the vote to commit the funding last week, Mrs Gilmour said: “This is absolutely wonderful news for the community in and around Bishops Lydeard.

“If all goes to plan, following the school’s timeline, children and families will be able to benefit from wrap around care at the new nursery in the old schoolhouse building from next September.

“I know this is welcome news for local parents in the village, and I am delighted that our campaigning has paid off.

“I am grateful to the Bishops Lydeard Parish Council for voting to allow these funds to be used to start the building work, and I now look forward to continuing to support Bishops Lydeard Church School in any way I can to get this project underway.”

Phil Durban, of the Bishops Lydeard Residents Action Group, added: “This is the very best Christmas present for children and families in Bishops Lydeard, we will have a new nursery class opening in our village school in September 2026.

“It’s taken 18 months of campaigning by our MP, Rachel Gilmour, together with parents, grandparents and residents to ensure we have a new nursery class in place.

“Going forward, with Rachel’s support, we need to ensure speedier access to Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to ensure our schools and early years services can fully meet the needs of families when new housing is built.”